Electric control



MOTOR TUBE REACTOR um'r GRID-CONTROL ATTORNEYS July 16, 1940. M. E. WHITENACK ELECTRIC CONTROL Filed Feb. 24, .1938

Fig.2,

MOTOR REACTOR UN IT GRm-Coumoa.

TUBE

CoNTAcToR Patented July 16, E940 Whitenack Corporation,

poration oi Illinois Chicago, Ill, a cor- Application February 24, 1938, Seriai No. 192,214

5 t'jlaims.

This invention relates to electric control circuits, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved electric control circuit for controlling operation of a plurality of altemating-current devices. The invention is particularly applicable for use in circuits designed to control the operation of two interrelated alternating-current devices, such as alternating-current motors.

iii There are a number of uses for electrical devices so interrelated as to require the provision of means for efiecting operation of only one of the devices at any given moment. For example, it may be desired to operate either one of 155 two motors mounted on the same shaft or otherwise interconnected and to switch the operation from one motor to the other in response to a change in some operating condition. The present invention provides a control circuit capable m of thus governing the operation of a plurality of interconnected alternating-current motors or other interrelated alternating current devices through the agency of a single make-and-break contact. The new control is particularly well 25 adapted to provide for extremely prompt shift in operation from one motor or other device to the other motor or device.

The invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which m Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus embodying the invention;.

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of apparatus such as that shown in block form in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 shows one form of contact assembly that 35 may be employed.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the blocks I and II represent two motors or other devices to be alternately operated. The supply of operating current to the motors I 0 and II is controlled by reactor units l3 and 2|, respectively. The flow of motor-operating current through the reactor units l3 and 2| is in turn controlled by grid-control tubes l8 and 25, respectively. The operation of one tube I8 depends upon whether 45 a contactor 29 is open or closed, and the operation of the other tube 25 is controlled by the tube I8. The reactor unit I3 is so arranged that an operating current flows through the motor In only when the tube I8 is passing current, which m it does when the contactor 29 is closed. When the tube I8 is passing current, the tube 25 is nonconductive, so that no operating current is permitted by the reactor unit 2| to flow through the motor II. When the contactor is opened, the tube l8 becomes non-conductive, and the re is to operate.

actor unit 53 therefore ceases to permit an operating current to flow through the motor 86. Under this condition, however, the tube 25 becomes conductive and passes a current which causes the reactor unit 2| to permit the flow of an operating current through the motor ii. Thus the opening or closing of a single contactor determines which of the two motors in and H The motors cannot both be energized at the same time, but there is substantially 1c no delay between the end of operation of one motor and the beginning of operation of the other motor.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawing, a pair of alternating-current motors l0 and H are shown diagrammatically as connected by a common shaft I2. One of the motors, I0, is arranged to rotate the shaft l2 in one direction, say clockwise, and the other motor, II, to rotate it in the opposite direction, say counterclockwise. A reactor unit I3, comprising a reactor winding l4 and a control winding I 5 having a common magnetic core, is associated with the motor In. The reactor winding II, which preferably consists of two coils connected in series-aiding relation as shown, is connected in series with the motor l0 and an alternating-current line l6 or other source of ,altemating current, and has sufiicient impedance normally to prevent the flow of an operating current. through the motor l0. When suflicient direct current is passed through the control winding l5, however, the common magnetic core is saturated, so that the impedance of the reactor .winding I4 is greatly decreased. Under this condition, an operating current is permitted to flow through the motor in.

If desired, a limit switch I! may be included in series with the winding I4 and the motor ID in order that the circuit may be opened automatically if the motor i0 rotates beyond a chosen L limit.

The reactor unit I 3 also functions as a transformer, so that an alternating potential is induced in the control winding I 5 due to the alternating current which flows in the reactor winding M. The resistor 31 provides a path for suiiicient alternating current to thus energize the control winding l5 when the switch I! is open.

A grid-control tube I8 is associated with the reactor unit l3 and the motor In. One terminal l5a of the control winding I5 is connected to the anode lBa of the tube l8, and the other terminal l5b' of the control winding I5 is connected to ground or common. A transformer IS, the

primary winding Ilia of which is connected across the line I5, is provided with a winding 20 for energizing the filament-type cathode I8b of the tube'I8,-and one terminal of the cathode I8b is connected to ground or common.

A second reactor unit 2| is associated with the other motor II. The reactor unit 2|, like the unit l3 described above, comprises a reactor winding 22 and a control winding 23 having a common magnetic core. The reactor winding 22, wnichpreferably consists of two coils connected in series-aiding relation as shown, is connected in series with the motor I I and the alternating-current line I6, and has sufiicient impedance normally to prevent the fiow of an operating current through the motor II. If desired, a limit switch 24' to limit rotation of the motor Il may be included in serieswith the reactor winding 22 and the motor II. The resistor 38 provides a path for suificient alternating current to energize the control winding 23 when the switch 24 is open.

A grid-control tube25 is associated with the reactor unit 2|. One terminal 23a of the control winding 23 of this reactor unit is connected to the anode 25a of the associated tube 25, and the other terminal 23b is connected to ground or common. A transformer 28, the primary winding 28a of which is connected across the line I8, is provided to energize the filament-type cathode 25b of the tube 25 and one terminal of this cathode is connected to ground or common.

The circuit thus far described is such that a closed path is provided for current to flow through the control winding I5 of the first reactor unit I3 whenever the tube I8 is in a condition for passing anode current, thereby enabling an operating current to flow through the reactor winding l4 and through the motor III in series therewith and so bringing about operation of the motor I0. Similarly, whenever the tube 25 is in condition for passing anode current, a closed path is provided for anode current to fiow through the tube 25 and the control winding 23 of the second reactor unit 2I, thus permitting an operating current to flow through the reactor winding 22 and through the motor II in series therewith to bring about operation of this motor.

Whether or not either of the tubes I8 or 25 is in condition to pass current depends upon the potential impressed upon the grid of that tube. If the charge on the grid is sufiiciently negative during the positive swings of the anode, currentwill not fiow through the tube, whereas if the grid is connected to the cathode or if the grid potential is positive with respect to the cathode during positive anode swings, current will flow through the tube.

In each tube, the anode potential with respect to the cathode is the alternating potential which is induced in the control winding of the associated reactor unit. Thus,'the reactor winding I4 of the reactor unit I3 is connected through the motor I0 across the line I6, and an alternating potential is at all times induced in the control winding I 5 of this reactor unit and impressed upon the anode l8a of the tube l8. Similarly, the reactor winding 22 of the second reactor unit 2| is connected through the motor II across the line I5, so at all times an alternating potential is induced in the control winding 23 of the reactor unit 2| and is impressed upon the anode 25a of the tube 25.

To control the flow of current through the tube I8, means are provided for impressing upon the grid I of this tube a negative potential during the positive half-cycle swings of the potential impressed upon the anode I8a. These means, in the embodiment shown, comprise a winding 21 on the transformer I9 connected on one side to the cathode I8b of the tube l8 and on the other side in series with a capacitor 28 to the grid I8c of the tube I8. The primary winding I90. of the transformer I9 is connected to the same source it of alternating current as they reactor winding I4, the polarity being such that the potential induced in the secondary 21 of the transformer I9 is substantially in phase opposition with the potential induced in the control winding I5 of the reactor unit I3. Therefore, when the anode 18a of the tube I8 is negative the grid I80 is positive and acts as one element of a half-wave rectifier. The half-wave rectifier current passes through the capacitor 28 and charges it in such a way that the terminal connected to the grid I80 is negative. Thus the grid I80 is held definitely negative as the anode |8a becomes positive,.and no anode current will flow through the tube and hence no saturating current will-flow through the control winding I5 of the reactor unit l3.

To discharge the capacitor 28, means are provided for connecting the grid I80 to ground or common: These means comprise a single-pole single-throw contactor 29 which may be actuated in response to the conditions by which it is desired to govern operation of the motors I0 and II.

The grid 250 of the tube 25 is connected through a pair of capacitors 34 and 35 to the anode 25a of the same tube, and to ground or common through the resistor 36. The potential impressed upon the anode 25a of the tube 25 is provided by the control winding 23 and, since the grid 250 of the tube 25 is connected to a point on a divider network comprising the capacitors 34 and 35 in series with the resistor 36, the grid 25c normally has applied to it an alternating potential sufliciently out of phase with the anode potential due to the series capacitors 34 and 35, to prevent passage of anode. current through the tube 25.

. The grid 250 of the tube 25 is connected with the terminal I5a of the control winding I5 of the first reactor unit I3 by a connection leading to the junction of the capacitors 34 and 35. Thus the phase shift of the potential applied to the grid 250 of the tube 25 due to the potential across the control winding I5 will be less than that of the grid potential due to the potential across the control winding 23, since only one capacitor 34 is effectively in circuit in this case. If the potential across the control winding I5 of the reactor unit I3, therefore, is substantially equal to or greater than the potential across the control winding 23- of the reactor unit 2I, it will decrease the eifective phase shift of the potential applied to the grid 250 of the tube 25 from the control winding 23 and permit anode current to flow through this tube. Thus, when the grid I8c of the tube I8 becomes negatively biased upon opening the contactor 29, the flow of current through the control winding I5 of the reactor unit I3 ceases, and the potential across the terminals of the control winding I5 increases to its opencircuit value, which is approximately equal to the open-circuit potential across the terminals of the control winding 23 of the second reactor unit 2|. When thisoccurs, and so long as the potential applied to the grid 250 of the tube 25 by the control winding I5 approximately equals or exceeds that applied by the control winding 23, the tube is in condition to pass anode current. Current therefore flows through the control winding 23, andan operating current'is enabled to flow through the reactor winding 22 and themotor II. On the other hand, if the grid of the tube I8 is connected to ground by closing the contacts of contactor 29, current begins to flow through the tube 18 and the control winding iii, enabling an operating current to flow through .the reactor winding l4 and the motor In, and

simultaneously the potential across the terminals of the control winding l5 drops sufficiently to enable the potential: applied by the control winding 23 to regain control of the grid 25c or the tube 25 and stop current flow through this tube. Thus operation of the first motor I0 is brought about by closing the contactor 29, and operation of the motor H by opening this contactor.

The degree of phase shift of the potentialapplied -to the grid 25!: of the tube 25 with respect to its anode potential may be adjusted by varying the value of the resistor 36. The proper adjustment is that which provides just suflicient phase shift to prevent the tube 25 from becoming conductive unless the potential across the control winding 15 equals or exceeds that across the control winding 23.

It will be noted that in the circuit described above the grid of only one tube is biased independently of the reactor units. The bias potential applied to the grid of the other tube is obtained from the control windings of the reactor units, which also supply anode potential to the tubes. The circuit thus has as one of its features an arrangement in which the flow of current through the-latter tube is brought about by a shifting of the phase relation between the potential applied to the anode and the potential applied to the grid of that tube, whereas the former tube is rendered non-conductive by maintaining the grid negative with respect to the cathode by means of grid rectification.

It will be understood that the circuit described herein is not limited to the use of any particular type of apparatus. I have found, however, that mercury-vapor tubes of the Thyratron type are well' suited for use in the circuit. These are three-electrode tubes particularly adapted for use in connection with alternating-current circuits.

The capacitance of the capacitors 28, 34 and 35 and the values of theconstants employed in the circuit depend, to some extent at least, upon the particular type of grid-control tubes to be employed. With tubes of the Thyratron type FG-l'l, for example, used in a circuit conveniently designed to operate from a 110-volt, GO-cycle alternating-current line, capacitors having a capacitance of 0.01 microfarad have been employed successfully. In such an embodiment, the open-circuit potential acrossthe control winding II or 23 may be-approximately 850 volts, and

, the potential across the winding 2'! of the transformer l9 may be approximately 220 volts. Under these. conditions, the system is substantially independent 01' all normally encountered variations in the characteristics of the tubes l8 and 25, and within wide limits is independent-of the voltage rating or the controlled devices or motors l0 and II. The windings employed to energize the filament-type cathodes oi the tubes are, of course, designed to provide the proper cathode voltage which, in the case of tubes of the Thyratron type FG17, is 2.5 volts.

The reactor units employed are oi! conventube is in condition for passing current, the flow of direct current ti oug'n the control winding of the reactor unit is sufllcient to enable an'operating current to flow through the reactor wind- I The contact assembly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing may be employed when it is desired to actuate the contactor 29 and thus control operation or the motors in response tov changes in pressure conditions. For this purpose, one or the contact members 30 is connected mechanically to an expansible bellows ii. The bellows it communicates through a tube 32 with the point where the controlling pressure changes occur. A spring 33 balances the bellows at a point corresponding to normal pressure conditions. (If the pressure should increase, the bellows 3i expands, thus separating the contact members 30 and 29, or, it the pressure drops, the bellows 3i collapses and closes contact members it and 29. It is understood that the contact assembly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing is described only by way of an example or one type of contact assembly that may be employed. Any contact assembly responding to the particular conditions that it is desired to have govern operation of the motors or other devices may be employed in place of the pressure-sensitive contact assembly referred to herein by way of example. In any event, however, the contact assembly is such that when conditions tend in one direction the contact members 30 and 29 are closed and the grid I 0! the tube I8 is thereby connected to ground or common and hence the capacitor 28 discharged, and when conditions tend in the other direction, the,contact members 38 and 29 separate, thus permitting a negative potential to be impressed upon the grid I80 of the tube l8. With the contact members 30 and 2! closed and the grid I80 of the tube I8 grounded, anode current is enabled to flow through this tube and through the control winding I 5 of the reactor unit l3, thus enabling an operating current to flow through the reactor winding H of the reactor unit l3 and through the motor It in series therewith. On

the other hand, when the contact members 30 and 29 are open, the grid I80 of the tube l8 becomes negative with respect to the cathode l8b so as to prevent flow of current through the tube and through the control winding I 5, and hence the motor 10 does not operate.

The control circuit of the invention is extremely sensitive and prompt in its response to actuation of the contact assembly. It is therefore particularly useful in installations where very sensitive and prompt control of alternating-current devices is desired.

I claim:

1. In a circuit for controlling the operation or a pair of alternating-current devices, a first gridcontrol tube having an anode, a second grid-control tube having a grid and an anode, a reactor winding connected in series with each of said devices and a source of alternating current and having suflicient impedance normally to prevent the flow of an operating current through said device, and means associated with each of said reactor windings for materially decreasing the im- 75 pedance thereof including a winding in the anode circuit of each of said tubes, means for controlling the flow of anode current through said first tube, and means for controlling the fiow of anode current through said second .tube by varying the phase of the potential applied to the grid of said second tube in accordance with the flow of anode current through said first tube.

2. In a circuit for controlling the operation of a pair of alternating-current devices, first and second grid-control tubes each having a grid and an anode, a reactor winding connected in series with each of said devices and a source of alternating current and having sufiicient impedance normally to prevent the flow of an operating current through said device, and means associated with each of said reactor windings for materially decreasing the impedance thereof including a winding in the anode circuit of each of said tubes, means for controlling the fiow of anode current through said first tube by applying to the grid of said first tube a negative potential, and means for controlling the flow of anode current through said second tube by varying the phase of the potential applied to the grid of said second tube in accordance with the flow of anode current through said first tube.

3. In a circuit for controlling'the operation of a pair of alternating-current devices, first and second grid-control tubes each having an anode, first and second reactor units each comprising a reactor winding, a control winding and a magnetic core common to said windings, each of said reactor windings being connected in series with one of said devices and a source of alternating current and each having sufiicient impedance normally to prevent the fiow of an operating ourrent through the device with which it is in series, and each of said control windings being connected in the anode circuit of one of said tubes, means for controlling the flow of anode current through said first tube, and control means for controlling the flow of anode current through said second tube in inverse accordance with the flow of anode current through said first tube, said control means being actuated by voltage changes across the terminals of the control winding of the first reactor unit which accompany changes in the fiow of anode current through said first tube.

4. In a circuit for controlling the operation of a pair of alternating-current devices, first and second grid-control tubes each having a grid and an anode, first and second reactor units each comprising a reactor winding, a control winding and a magnetic core common to said windings,

each of said reactor windings being connected in series with one of said devices and a source of alternating current and each having suflicient impedance normally to prevent the fiow of an operating current through the device with which it is in series, and each of said control windings being connectedin the anode circuit 'of one of said tubes, means for controlling the flow. of anode current through said first tube by applying to the grid of said first tube a negative potential, and control means for controlling the fiow of anode current through said second tube by varying the phase of the potential applied to the grid of said second tube in accordance with the fiow of anode current through said first tube, said control means being actuated by the change in the voltage across the terminals of the reactor unit control winding connected in the anode circuit of said first tube when a substantial change occurs in the fiow of anode current therethrough.

5. In a circuit for controlling the operation of a pair of alternating-current devices, a first grid control tube having an anode, a second grid-control tube having a cathode, a grid, and an anode, first and second reactor units each comprising a reactor winding, a control winding and a magnetic core common to said windings, the reactor winding of the first reactor unit being connected in series with one of said pair of devices across a source of alternating current, the reactor winding ofthe second of said reactor units being connected in series with the other of said devices across said source of alternating current, each of said reactor windings having suificient impedance normally to prevent the fiow of an operating cur-- rent through the device with which it is in series, the control windings of the first and second reactor units being connected in the anode circuits of the first and second tubes respectively, means for controlling the flow of anode current through said first tube and the control winding of said first reactor unit, and phase-shifting means for controlling anode current flow through said second tube comprising a resistance connected between the cathode and the grid of said second tube, a relatively small capacitance connecting said grid and a point in the circuit connecting the anode of said first tube and the control winding of said first reactor unit, and a relatively large capacitance connecting said grid and a point in the circuit connecting the anode of said second tube and the control winding of said second reactor unit. g

- MIRL E. WHITENACK. 

